Indian IAS Academy

Saturday, 28 October 2017

IMPORTANT NEWS ANALYSIS

RELATIONS BETWEEN
INDIA AND THE SCO

About SCO:

The Shanghai
Cooperation Organization (SCO) is a permanent intergovernmental international
organization, the creation of which was announced on 15 June 2001
in Shanghai (China) by the Republic of Kazakhstan, the People's
Republic of China, the Kyrgyz Republic, the Russian Federation, the
Republic of Tajikistan, and the Republic of Uzbekistan. It was
preceded by the Shanghai Five mechanism.

The organization has
two permanent bodies — the SCO Secretariat based in Beijing
and the Executive Committee of the
Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) based in Tashkent. The SCO
Secretary-General and the Director of the Executive Committee of the
SCO RATS are appointed by the Council of Heads of State
for a term of three years. Rashid Alimov (Tajikistan) and Yevgeny
Sysoyev (Russia) have held these positions, respectively, since 1 January
2016.

In June
2017 India and Pakistan were formally inducted as the newest members of the
Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in the first-ever expansion of the
six-member group.

Speculations about the Shanghai Cooperation
Organization (SCO)

India’s relations with Pakistan and China have entered a
difficult phase has also generated apprehensions in India about the forum
creating new pressures on Jammu and Kashmir.

Is the SCO’s objective and
India’s expectations same?

Countering extremism, terrorism and separatism is a major
objective of the SCO. Sceptics would say the apparent convergence between what
the SCO does and India wants may be somewhat deceptive. They would insist that
the difficulties encountered by the recent Indian bid to isolate Pakistan in
various international forums should caution India against expecting too much on
this front at the SCO.

What India should do?

ØIndia must persist in the belief that change is inevitable and
purposeful diplomacy can allow India to probe for new opportunities for
regional security cooperation.

ØThe recent kidnapping and killing of two Chinese nationals in
Pakistan underlines the prospect that Beijing can’t forever remain untouched by
the terror nurtured by Pakistan.

Issues related to Belt and road
initiative

Differences between China’s President Xi Jinping and Prime
Minister Narendra Modi could not be masked. If Xi argued that the SCO could
become a major vehicle for its ambitious Belt and Road Initiative, Modi
articulated India’s reservations, especially the impact of the project on
India’s sovereignty in Kashmir.

Effective steps by the Indian PM

The PM appears to have found the right balance between
articulating India’s concerns and underlining India’s promise to strengthen
inner Asian regionalism. He outlined a realistic approach towards the SCO that
combined a strong emphasis on countering terrorism and a readiness to explore
win-win solutions for expanding connectivity.

Friday, 27 October 2017

Thursday, 26 October 2017

IMPORTANT
NEWS ANALYSIS

MINIMUM SUPPORT PRICES
FOR AGRICULTURAL PRODUCE

INTRODUCTION:

In
2007-08, Madhya Pradesh government announced a bonus of Rs 150 above the
minimum support price (MSP) per quintal of wheat. Predictably, a large segment of farmers in the
state shifted to the crop. The bonus was stopped in 2014. Farmers who had
shifted production were not pleased. It fed into the resentment that would
eventually erupt in widespread farmer agitations in the state this year.

PROBLEM:

Its policies have
created artificial incentives that are unsustainable, an inefficient drain on
public funds, or both.

ANOTHER SCHEME BY MP GOVERNMENT:

The Bhavantar Bhugtan
Yojana will replace government procurement with compensatory payment. This will
be when market prices are below the MSP.It is being implemented as a
pilot scheme for eight crops

HOPE FROM THE SCHEME: The hope is that
this will sidestep the implementation shortcomings of the procurement system.These extend from the lack of government storage facilities and supply
chain logistics. Despite the government declaring MSPs for 25 crops, it
largely procures only rice and wheat. It will be less distortionary, freeing up
space for the market to set rates.

WHAT IS NEEDED?

1.Mandi system:

With
the 2003 and 2017 versions of the model Agricultural Produce Market Committee
(APMC) Act, governments have attempted to liberalize this system, providing for
private markets and integrated state markets.
This was a step towards a national market facilitated by the National
Agriculture Market (eNAM). The problem with this is that it still operates
within the mandi system. Solution: Government needs to get out of the business
altogether—and that is only possible with a switch from the public distribution
system to direct benefit transfers.

2.Reforms
should be aimed at inputs:

The
Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana aims to extend irrigation cover
to all forms and maximize water-use efficiency over a period of five years. In
a water-stressed yet groundwater-dependent country like India, this is only
possible with comprehensive rural electrification, allowing for techniques such
as drip irrigation. The other major reform needed here is access to formal
credit. The current dependence on
informal credit leaves farmers beholden to middlemen and traders who are often
the credit suppliers, thus undercutting the former’s bargaining power

3.Reforms
should be reduction in number of people participating in Agriculture.

CONCLUSION:

The agricultural sector is one of the handful where inelastic
demand for the products, the deleterious public effects of supply shocks and
inherent risks for suppliers mandate a government role. So, government policies should be sustainable
and an efficient with less peoples participation.

Tuesday, 18 April 2017

The
role of oxytocin in child birth and social behaviors such as maternal bonding
and monogamy has been a focus of study for many years, recent research is
exploring the hormone’s role in psychiatric conditions such as autism spectrum
disorder.

·

In
autism research with oxytocin therapy initially showed promising results.
However, the study sizes have been small in numbers and the effects of varying
doses of oxytocin on behavior has not been sufficiently investigated.

·

According
to a recent study, Oxytocin, often referred to as “the love hormone,” is
involved in a broader range of social interactions than previously understood.

Facts:-

·

The
new study pinpoints a unique way in which oxytocin alters activity in a part of
the brain called the nucleus accumbens, which is crucial to experiencing the
pleasant sensation neuroscientists call “reward.”

·

The
findings not only provide validity for ongoing trials of oxytocin in autistic
patients, but also suggest possible new treatments for neuropsychiatric
conditions in which social activity is impaired.

Background:-

·

Oxytocin
has also been dubbed the hug hormone, cuddle chemical, moral molecule, and the
bliss hormone due to its effects on behavior, including its role in love and in
female reproductive biological functions in reproduction.

·

Oxytocin
is a hormone that is made in the brain, in the hypothalamus. It is transported
to, and secreted by, the pituitary gland, which is located at the base of the
brain.

·

It
acts both as a hormone and as a brain neurotransmitter.

·

The
release of oxytocin by the pituitary gland acts to regulate two female
reproductive functions: Childbirth and Breast-feeding.

Both the houses of Telangana
Legislature have cleared a bill which increases the reservations for Scheduled
Tribes and backward sections among the Muslim community in government jobs and
educational institutions.

The Telangana Backward Classes,
Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes (Reservation of Seats in Educational
Institutions and of Appointments or Posts in the Services under the State)
Bill, 2017 was cleared amid opposition from many MLAs.

Facts:-

Under the bill, quota for STs will
be increased to 10% from the existing 6%, while that for BC-E category (the
backward sections among the Muslim community) will go up to 12% from the
existing 4%.

The total reservations in the
state, consequently, will go up to 62% from the existing 50%.

What necessitated this move?

The state defends its move by
saying that “after the bifurcation of the combined Andhra Pradesh state, the
percentage of Muslims in Telangana has gone up and 90% of them are poor and
socially backward.”

Background:-

The Sudhir Commission which was set
up to take stock of the socio-economic and educational status of Muslims
observed in its report that in Telangana, following the general trend across
India, the proportion of Muslim employees had fallen.

The commission’s report observed
that Muslim employees were just 7.36 per cent of the total workforce in the
state.Future action:-The reservation exceeds the Supreme
Court’s 50% ceiling for such benefits. Now, the Centre has to include the bill
in the 9th schedule of Constitution to grant it immunity from a judicial
review.

3) Canberra keen on joining naval games:-

Australia is keen on joining the Malabar trilateral naval exercises among India, Japan and the U.S., and has requested observer status at the upcoming edition, scheduled for July.

Background:-

Australia had been a part of the exercises in 2007. But a sharp response from China, which saw the joint exercises as a coalition against it, put an end to the quadrilateral format.

Japan and the U.S. are keen on expanding the games to include Australia with officials from both countries specifically stating so on various occasions. However, India has been reluctant to antagonise China.

About Malabar exercise:-

The Malabar drills, which began in 1992 as a bilateral naval exercise between India and the U.S., has since grown in scope and complexity, acquiring considerable heft in recent times. In 2015, it was expanded into a trilateral format with the inclusion of Japan.

4) Technical textiles use in govt. projects gets push:-

Technical textiles or functional textiles, considered a sunrise sector in the country, is all set for demand taking off for products such as geo and agro textiles

Technical textiles is a thrust area for the Government because of the value addition involved

It can be used in infastructure projects, including ports, roads, and railways, and in sectors such as agriculture

Govt seeks to promote use of textile products that will improve productivity, health standards, and infrastructure

Geo textiles:-

For example, are permeable fabrics that are used in association with soil and which have the ability to separate and filter, while agro-textiles are used in shading and in weed and insect control

In an effort to increase use of technical textiles in Government projects, it is trying to promote interface with other ministries

The aim is to create awareness, promote use of technical textile products, then ensure the usage is mandated in at least some areas

Functional textiles can be woven or non-woven

Progress:-

Automobile, geo, medical, industrial, and agro textiles are among the range of products that are made in the country

There are a large number of units that are into production of items such as non-woven carry bags or wipes too

TUFS support:-

The number of larger industries involved in the manufacture of various technical textile products is estimated to be about 2,500

Close to 1,000 of these have received Technology Upgradation Fund Scheme support

Challenges:-

The main challenges for technical textiles in the country are awareness among consumers, need for technology and knowledge about it among entrepreneurs, the investments and time needed to be innovative and develop applications, and raw material availability.

Opportunity:-

China is a generation ahead in production of technical textiles. But, their costs are going up and this is an opportunity for India

The Government should select and support entrepreneurs to be sent abroad to learn about technical textiles.

5) Election Commission seeks funds for paper trail units:-

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) has requested the Union Law Ministry for urgent release of funds, given the “prevailing environment,” to facilitate procurement of VVPAT (voter verifiable paper audit trail) machines for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

What is VVPAT?

VVPAT stands for Voter-Verified Paper Audit Trail. VVPAT system maintains a physical trail of all votes cast. Small slips of paper records the details of the vote. The Election Commission (EC) first introduced VVPAT in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.

How is it related to Electronic Voting Machines?

When a vote is cast on the electronic voting machine, a small paper slip bearing the name and symbol of the candidate is generated.

This paper appears for about 10 seconds. The slip will then automatically fall in a sealed safe box, attached to the EVM, thus maintaining a physical paper trail of all the votes cast.

Background:-

EC feels that with most of the political parties having declared their lack of faith in EVMs, VVPAT machines are the need of the hour.

Future Plan:-

Over 16 lakh VVPATs would be required, at an estimated cost of ?3,174 crore, to cover all polling stations in the next Lok Sabha polls.

6) Energy: going where the wind blows:-

For the first time, wind power installations (windmills) in the country have crossed the 5 Gigawatt mark, to reach 5,400 MW in 2016-17. The earlier record was 3,472 MW of 2015-16. The current year might see installations of 6 GW.

Significance of this expansion:-

The Centre wants to buy electricity from wind power producers and sell it to electricity supply companies in other states, which are bound by law to buy a portion of their needs from wind and solar sources.

Background:-

India, with 32,280 MW, has the fourth biggest capacity in the world, after China, the U.S. and Germany. The national target is 60 GW by 2022. Wind accounts for 10% of India’s total power capacity of 3.2 lakh MW; and 4% in terms of electricity produced.

The Indian wind industry has been around since the late 1980s. For many years, it existed only in T.N., the windiest State. In the last decade, it spread to eight other States that have any wind potential — four other southern states, M.P., Maharashtra, Gujarat and Rajasthan.